Beyond the Bubble: VET, AI & the Future of EU Funding
Included in the participation fee
After the morning study visits, participants join a guided cultural tour of Thessaloniki designed to combine the city’s history with its most celebrated food culture. This is not a museum walk. It is a living tour of one of Greece’s most distinctive and food-obsessed cities, led by a local guide who knows where to stop, what to taste, and how to tell the story of a city that has been a crossroads of cultures for more than two thousand years.
The tour moves through the city on foot, taking in key landmarks, Byzantine monuments, and the layered streets of the old town, with planned stops at iconic local food spots, street food stalls, and neighbourhood bars along the way. Participants will have time to sit, eat, and enjoy each stop rather than moving through the city at conference pace.
Street food highlights
Participants can expect to try: bougatsa (warm custard or cheese pastry, a Thessaloniki morning institution), koulouri Thessalonikis (the city’s distinctive sesame-crusted bread ring), fresh seafood meze, local cheeses, and whatever the guide recommends stopping for.
The tour runs for approximately three to four hours and ends in the early evening, leaving participants free to enjoy the rest of their last full evening in the city independently.
This afternoon is covered by the participation fee. No additional cost.
Staying for the weekend?
Thessaloniki is one of the best bases in Greece for a long weekend. For participants extending their stay, EVBB is working to arrange preferential rates on selected experiences and accommodation in the region. Details will be shared with registered participants closer to the event.
Recommended options for the weekend:
Halkidiki peninsula
30 to 45 minutes from Thessaloniki by car, Halkidiki offers some of the clearest water and best beaches in the Mediterranean. The peninsula splits into three fingers: Kassandra for lively beach resorts, Sithonia for quieter coves and villages, and Mount Athos (Agion Oros) for those interested in one of the most extraordinary monastic communities in the world. Note that access to Mount Athos requires a special permit and is restricted to men.
Vergina (Aigai)
Approximately 75 minutes from Thessaloniki, Vergina is the ancient capital of the Macedonian kingdom and the burial site of Philip II, father of Alexander the Great. The royal tombs and museum are among the most significant archaeological sites in Europe and genuinely worth the trip.
Meteora
Approximately three hours from Thessaloniki, the monasteries of Meteora sit on top of extraordinary rock formations rising from the Thessalian plain. A UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most visually striking places in Greece.
Extended Thessaloniki
If you prefer to stay in the city, Friday and Saturday evenings in Thessaloniki are among the liveliest in Greece. The city’s food scene, rooftop bars, and waterfront are best experienced without a conference schedule to follow.
EVBB will share information on preferential rates for accommodation and organised excursions with all registered participants. To express your interest in weekend extension options, indicate this during registration or contact events@evbb.eu